resign

American  

[ri-zahyn] / rɪˈzaɪn /

verb (used without object)

1. to give up an office or position, often formally (often followed byfrom ).

   to resign from the presidency.

   Synonyms:

   withdraw

2. to submit; yield.

   to resign before the inevitable.

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verb (used with object)

1. to give up (an office, position, etc.), often formally.

   Synonyms:

   leave, quit, renounce, abdicate

2. to relinquish (a right, claim, agreement, etc.).

   Synonyms:

   cede, surrender, give up, forgo

3. to give or sign over, as to the control or care of another.

   She resigned her child to an adoption agency.

4. to submit (oneself, one's mind, etc.) without resistance.

resign British  

/ rɪˈzaɪn /

verb

1. to give up tenure of (a job, office, etc)

2. (tr) to reconcile (oneself) to; yield

   to resign oneself to death

3. (tr) to give up (a right, claim, etc); relinquish

   he resigned his claim to the throne

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Usage

What does resign mean? Resign most commonly means to give up one’s job or position.When used this way, resign can be used without an object, as in He resigned yesterday, or with one, as in She is expected to resign her position. In its general sense, resign means to yield or submit, as in When he knew he couldn’t possibly win the match, he decided to resign. Example: They say he resigned on his own, but I think he was forced out.

Other Word Forms

• resigner noun

Etymology

Origin of resign

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English resignen, from Middle French resigner, from Latin resignāre “to open, release, cancel,” literally, “to seal back,” from re- re- + signāre “to mark, seal” ( sign )

Example Sentences

“Try and get some sleep,” Mrs. Contreras told him, resigned to his silence.

From Literature

The Labour veteran who had previously worked with Tony Blair was appointed as the prime minister's director of communications but resigned last March, after nine months in the job.

From BBC

He also asked if Lyons would resign from ICE.

From Los Angeles Times

But his words were not enough to prevent Reform councillor David Taylor resigning from the party live on air on the BBC's Politics Midlands show on Sunday.

From BBC

Many in Westminster concluded that the prime minister would not see out the day without resigning - and that included at least some officials in Downing Street.

From BBC